Last modified: 2023-06-03 by 
zachary harden
Keywords: latvia | roundel | airforce |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
See also:
image from <www.af.mil.lv>
From <www.af.mil.lv>:
"NAF AF
flag is the symbol of unity for Latvian Air Force. Air force
motto is “Everything for Latvia” that is maintained
from independent Latvian military aviation and sewn into Air
Force flag. The size of AF flag is 100 cm x 160 cm and background
is of light blue colour.
The front upper side of AF flag bears a yellow inscription
of 10 cm high letters “AIR FORCE”. In the middle of the
flag – there is the symbol of Defence forces sewn in
respective colours: on the sunbeams there is a sword positioned
askew over it, in the centre there is a shield with the colours
of the State flag on which there are 3 yellow pentagonal stars
placed, that symbolize 3 regions of Latvia. Each corner of flag
bears AF aviation membership signs sewn in yellow colour –
stylised wings of birds and between them there is a propeller in
vertical position placed. On the bottom side of the flag, under
the Defence forces symbol, there is “1992” sewn in with
10 cm high numbers – the year of Latvian Air Force renewal
because in February, 1992 there was Air and Air Defence
administration formed, but June 17, 1992 is the anniversary of
renewed Air Force.
The reverse of AF flag, the central image is formed by the symbol
of AF aviators badge – an eagle in silver colour bringing
the State flag of Latvia. Above the eagle there are 3 stars sewn
in yellow traditionally symbolizing 3 regions of Latvia. The
bottom side of flag - with 10 cm high letters the motto of
Air Force “Everything for Latvia” is sewn in
semicircle. Each corner of the flag bears an inscription of
bird’s flight in yellow colour.
On the free sides of the flag there are 10 cm long yellow
fringes. The flag image and inscriptions on both sides are sewn
on satin cloth with threads of yellow, white, carmine, black and
metal colours.
On June 17, 1997 on the 5th anniversary of Air Force, the
president of holding company Riga Airlines Maris Karklin?
solemnly handed renewed AF flag to NAF AF commander colonel
Karlis Kins. In the flourish of trumpets of flag presentation NAF
Navy padre Viesturs Kalnin? consecrated it.
AF flag is kept in AF base in Lielvarde and during ceremonies
according to the order of AF commander is handed to
standard-bearer and to his 2 assistants."
Talis Tomass, 3 March 2006
image by Željko Heimer, 11 April 2002
According to Album 2000 [pay00]
- Aircraft Marking - Red-white-red roundel, the red being the
particular Latvian red shade, and the white being
"thinner" then the other two. Note explains that the
national flag is painted on the fin. [cos98] explains that this is so
since 1992. The aircraft markings of Latvian aircrafts was
entirely different before the Soviet era. At first RWR stripes
(of normal red and of equal width) were painted on the wings and
on fin, soon replaced with red swastika rotated 45deg usually on
white disk. The National Guard (paramilitary units) red outlined
used white disk with red indented cross in 1937-1940, and Navy
used 1936-1940 black rotated swastika and black cabled anchor on
the fin. In years 1941-44 Latvian aircrafts in German service
used a black Latin cross was painted on white pannels, with black
swastika on the fin.
Željko Heimer, 8 April 2002
Formed in 1919, and folowing a brief period of using national
colors wingtips and rudder stripes, the Latvian air force adopted
a swastika (red according to [cos98]
but it should ne maroon) on white disc.According to Insignia, there
were variants of those markings such as wing marking of swastika
on white plate (<latjunk.jpg>)
or no white background at all (<latdh9a.jpg>),
however those were probably at the begining, later to be
standartized as in <www.dalnet.se/~surfcity>
and <www.insigniamag.com>
. The image in our site (1918-1940) should be
maroon.
[cos98] show another markinks for
National Guard, 1937-1940 (again should be
maroon). This markings can be seen at Insignia:
"The later style of Aizsargu Aviacija (Latvian National
Guard Aviation Branch) markings with a simplified Auskelis cross
in Dark Red on a White disc are used in six positions". It
don't show the ring around it as in [cos98]
image.
Insignia also show a former markinks of
the National Guard as: "This aircraft used a marking
basedon a traditional Latvian ornament, the Auskelis, which was a
Dark Red and White cross with swallow-tail tips. This was then
superimposed onto a Latvian military Jack in Dark Red and
White". There is no word about those marking in [cos98]. Aizsargu Aviacija was formed
in 1931 and dissolved in1940.
You can read at Insignia about "Latvian Air Force
1918-40" and "Early Latvian Aircraft".
[cos98] reports also about Navy
markings 1936-1940 (Naval air arm formed1923 and dissolved 1936)
as black swastika with no background and anchor on rudder.
Insignia show the swastikas in maroon as seen in the article
"Latvian
Naval Aviation 1936".
[cos98] reports that Latvian unit
attached to the Luftwaffe used black cross on white plate (1941-1944) with rudder markinks of black
swastika on square white plate.
The new Latvijas Gaisa Spéki was established in 1992
and since then it is using a maroon-white-maroon roundel. [cos98] show a very thin white ring.
It is thiner but not as much as reported there and above.
National flag used as fin flash. See <www.insigniamag.com>.
Air forec reserves are using another markings (Army
Reserve, 1994-) but with wider borders and in maroon as seen
at <www.insigniamag.com>.
More info at <www.scramble.nl>.
Some photos:
Air forec reserves - <www.airliners.net/496093>
and <www.airliners.net/495830>.
Air force - <www.airliners.net/332748>.
SAR helicopters - <www.airliners.net/106107>
(and see also <www.insigniamag.com>
).
Dov Gutterman, 20 June 2004
image by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
image by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
image by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
image by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
image located by Victor Lomantsov, 20 March 2016
Interesting photo of the Latvian Air Force poster from aviation festival of
1938 at
http://propagandahistory.ru/1666/Latyshskie-plakaty-do-1940-g-/
We see three air force flags. All three are white.
The first one with the eagle and stars (looks like modern AF flag.
Second one - with swastika
Third - with cross (National Guard)
Victor Lomantsov, 20 March 2016
The proper file of the poster is located
here
There are three flags in that poster: from what I can infer, as you already
mentioend, the first flag (from top to bottom) being the flag with black eagle
and three red stars is the flag of the Latvian Air Force (WWII-era); the second
one which is the red swastika is the
roundel and the
third one being the red cross is the
National Guard roundel. This
forum also mentions the red cross as being the roundel for the
National
Guard (Zemessardze, ZS) (official websites: http://www.zs.mil.lv/and
http://www.zemessardze.lv/) so I believe
that's a match.
The different markings and roundels have already been explained by Dov
Gutterman in his entry on June
20, 2004.
In fact, one can also see other posters from the same website showing
the red swastika as well:
- http://propagandahistory.ru/pics/2014/03/1395416964_bc2b.png
- http://propagandahistory.ru/pics/2014/03/1395415890_2ed4.jpg
By the way, even though the Latvian Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa spēki in
Latvian, official website) is already
featured, here's the
full
official explanation of its current flag
with pictures of the obverse and reverse of the Standard (flag).
Esteban Rivera, 22 March 2016
